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Lexington & Concord
After the first meeting of the Continental Congress, founding fathers told Minutemen to stockpile arms and gunpowder. When the British found out, they ordered troops to march to Boston (near Concord and Lexington) to seize and legal weapons. When British troops got there they discovered there were no illegal weapons but an ambush of between 3,000 - 4,000 minutemen. This battle is significant to the revolution because this was the battle that started the war. -
Bunker Hill
General Thomas Gage of Britain, while in Boston, decided to strike at the colonists on Breed's Hill (near Bunker Hill). Gage, when the Army had gotten to Breed's Hill, sent 2,400 troops up the hill. The Minutemen on Breed's hill then waited until the last minute to mow down the British troops. At the end of the battle the casualties were 450 Minute Men and one thousand British troops. This battle is significant because it was the deadliest battle of the war. -
New York
As a plan to stop the Patriots rebellion the British tried to isolate New England and take control of New York City. In order to take New York City, 32,000 British soldiers sailed to New York Harbor in the summer of 1776. While the Continental Army attempted to defend New York the untrained troops retreated. The British then moved Washington's Army into Pennsylvania. -
Trenton
Because of the need for an early victory George Washington had a plan for a strike set for Christmas night in 1776. While a very bad storm occurred he led 2,400 men down the Delaware River where they were trying to get to Trenton, New Jersey where they defeated German troops in a surprise attack, but British troops soon captured Philadelphia. -
Saratoga
British General John Burgoyne planned to lead an army to Albany where he thought he would meet British troops from New York City. But because those troops were being preoccupied with holding on to New York, American troops surrounded the British troops in Saratoga. Burgoyne then surrendered on October 17th 1777. This battle was significant because this earned the trust of the French so they would aid the Patriots in the war by signing an alliance. -
Valley Forge
At Valley Forge while in the middle of a frozen winter, American troops went under rigorous training. Prussian Captain Frederick Von Steuben helped to train the Continental Army. During the last years of the war Marquis De Lafayette of France led an army into Virginia in 1779. This event is significant because this made the Continental Army become an effective force. -
Yorktown
In 1781 after many defeats, the Colonists were still determined to fight General Cornwallis and General Clinton so they would not take the Carolina’s. Because of the Patriots defending the Carolinas to no end, the British decided to move their battles to Virginia. While camping at Yorktown the Patriot and French troops attacked the British on the Yorktown peninsula. On October 19th 1781 Cornwallis then surrendered. This is significant because this is when the Americans defeated the British. -
Philadelphia
While there was no battle in Philadelphia at this time, Congress had appointed a rich merchant (Robert Morris) as superintendent of finance. Morris and his associate Haym Soalomon (a Jew) had the task to raise money for the troops in the Continental Army. They raised 1 months pay for our troops with donations from Quakers and Jews. This was significant in the war because this was the first pay that American troops received. -
Treaty of Paris
Talks of peace had begun in Paris. John Adams, John Jay, and Benjamin Franklin were those to negotiate the terms of peace on the behalf of the Americans. In 1783 delegates signed the Treaty of Paris. This is a significant event because this is what made America independent.